Note: I do not own Naruto franchise , Shonen jump does.

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Naruto and Hinata were jumping through the trees to get well ahead of the competition.

" (gasp) Naruto-kun wait, we should wait for Kiba." Hinata said .

"Don't worry , I'm already here." Kiba said from behind them.

"Damn Kiba that was fast." Naruto said.

Kiba grinned in satisfaction. The three then continued through the woods. Neji continued speeding through the woods, just praying that he'd soon run into Naruto.

"Neji maybe you'd like to wait for your teammates!" Sakura said as she and Lee were running up beside him.

"Look when we reach Naruto and Hinata's team do what you want with her and the dog boy but Naruto is mine." Neji said.

" Do not concern yourself with them unless they have a heaven scroll, we should be focusing on getting through the forest." Lee announced. Neji ignored his words.

"I'm starting to think that Neji doesn't care about being a chunin, he just wants to hurt Naruto and probably Hinata-chan as well." Sakura thought to herself.

Kurenai and Kakashi were at a cafeteria talking. "So how do you think they're doing?" Kakashi asked. Kurenai leaned back crossing her arms.

" I think they are doing ok." Kakashi noticed the look of concern on Kurenai's face. "You….really care for your team don't you?" Kakashi asked.

Kurenai looked at Kakashi. "You could say that." She responded.

" Especially Hinata?" Kakashi said. There was an odd silence.

"Hinata… is very important to me. From the time I knew her. She had always been so oddly shy. Even though she was very skilled she had practically no confidence in herself. I guess she and I are a lot alike. Though not quite as shy you know how when I was her age I had confidence issues. Also like her, I to had issues with my father."

Kakashi looked at her curiously, he apparently did not know about the trouble with Hinata and her clan. Kurenai explained to him what Hiashi had said that day she visited.

Kakashi was a bit shocked "that's… horrible." Kakashi said.

" Since then Hinata had worked her self into exhaustion daily trying to earn her father's love. But no matter how hard she worked, she still lacked confidence, and as we both know Kakashi all the strength in the world amounts to nothing if you do not believe in yourself."

Kakashi nodded in agreement. "Hmph, perhaps that is why lord Hokage sent her and Naruto to train together. Though Naruto is a goofball, he has been known to be a bit inspirational."

Kurenai leaned back with her arms crossed. " And I'm sure Hinata definitely had no objections."

Kakashi nodded in agreement.

Back in the Forest….

Hours had passed and the sun was setting. Naruto and his team decided to set up camp. Using Her Byakugan Hinata found an old hollow tree in which the team could seek shelter in. Kiba had finished laying down his final trap.

"There, nobody will be able to get around here without us knowing." Kiba said.

Naruto and Hinata nodded happily.

"Well , I'll take the first shift. You guys better get some rest." Naruto said.

Hinata nodded. Kiba looking back and forth at the two and with a sly grin on his face said

"Actually Naruto, why don't me and Akamaru take the first shift. It's no big deal."

Naruto looked at him strangely for a sec "Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yeah, no problem." Kiba said.

Naruto, seeing no reason not to, agreed.

Kiba went up the tree to keep watch.

"Kiba's gotten stronger hasn't he?" Naruto asked Hinata.

"Yes, very." Hinata said.

Naruto couldn't help but smile at Hinata.

"We should get some rest, tomorrow all hell's gonna break loose." Naruto said.

Later that night……

Hinata was fast asleep. Leaning her back against the wall of the tree. Naruto was just about to doze off.

"It's funny, it seems like a really long time ago." Naruto thought.

(((((((((((Flashback))))))))))))

Naruto and Hinata came to a waterfall.

"Wow, it sure looks beautiful." Hinata said.

Naruto smiled as he nodded his head in agreement.

" Hey, if there's another waterfall around here, maybe we'll be close to Matobe's place." Naruto exclaimed.

After a few more minutes of walking a man walked in between them toward the lake. Both of them were taken by surprise as they in no way even saw him coming. The man had long white hair, a somewhat dingy white dress shirt and somewhat dirty black pants, he also sported a black hidden leaf villge bandana . As the man walked towards a tree Naruto broke the silence.

" Uh, excuse me? Are you…."

But Naruto was cut off as he saw the man was relieving himself by the tree. Hinata looked uncomfortable, as did Naruto slightly. Naruto was going to continue his question as soon as the man was done. A minute had passed and the man still was not done. Hinata and Naruto looked at each other. Naruto shrugged his shoulders and looked at his watch to measure the time. After a couple minutes, the white haired man finally finished.

"Um, Hi we're looking for someone named……" Naruto started but was cut off.

"Matobe Kidigawa, that's me, you're Naruto and Hinata from Konoha ." Matobe said.

Both the kids were a bit surprised that he knew them right off the bat. The man then walked up to them.

" Well pleased to meet ya." Matobe said extending his hand to greet them.

Naruto and Hinata seemed reluctant to shake his hand considering what he had just been doing, so to avoid handshaking they bowed instead.

Later…..

So you kids wanna work on your Tai-jutsu eh? Well I assume you want to improve your Juuken . Right?" Matobe asked.

Hinata nodded shyly.

"What about you blondie? What style you got?" Matobe asked Naruto.

" I just want to get stronger, become better. But lord Hokage said if I wanna do that to come to you. I don't really have a Tai-jutsu style." Naruto said.

"Well, I've worked miracles before." Matobe said.

((((((((((((((End Flashback)))))))))))))))

Naruto had fallen asleep when suddenly he felt a small creature on his chest tugging away at his collar while growling. Naruto awoke to see that it was none other than Akamaru.

"Akamaru?….." Naruto said.

Then Naruto started looking around and got up in a worried state.

"Akamaru, where's Kiba?" Naruto asked. Akamaru began barking as if to tell him something. This woke up Hinata.

"Akamaru what's wrong?" Hinata asked.

"Hinata-chan, Kiba's gone." Naruto said.

With that, Hinata sprang to her feet. Naruto, Akamaru and Hinata came out of the tree. Using her Byakugan, Hinata scanned for Kiba but could not locate him.

"Crap, where'd he go?" Naruto said.

In a distance….

Kiba is bound and gagged. Three Ninja are towering over him.

"We'll definitely lure in the Uzumaki kid with his teammate as bate. One of the shadowy ninja said.

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Next time

Hinata: Naruto-kun we have to find Kiba-kun.

Naruto: Whoever's messin' with our team is definitely tired of breathing!

(Scene shows ninjas who kidnapped Kiba)

Naruto: Huh? Who the hell are you guys?

Naruto: Next time! Fear the Byakugan !Hinata to the rescue!